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Colossians 2:9–10 and the Other Verses of Colossians 2

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“As Moses lifted up the serpent [the serpent made of bronze described in Numbers 21:8–9] in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whosoever believes in Him will have eternal life, for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten [uniquely born] Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

“…for by grace you are saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, lest any man should boast.”

Above is the content of John 3:14–16 and the content of Ephesians 2:8–9, respectively. Itʼs worthwhile to refrain from receiving the mark referenced in Revelation 13:11–18 and to instead receive eternal life for free by believing that Jesus is the Savior. Before doing any Bible studying and before praying to God the Father, it is useful for a person who has believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior to try to think of any sins that one might have committed since one last confessed oneʼs known post-salvation sins to God the Father, and if one has indeed committed any, to then silently confess those sins to God the Father—confessing only one time for each sin—in accordance with what is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

This webpage could be periodically updated. If there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, and if the original author of this webpage is amongst those people disappearing en masse, then it is possible that this webpage will no longer be updated. Also, if there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, it is worthwhile to consider the possibility that those people have exited from the earth on the occasion known as the Rapture instead of assuming that that mass disappearance involves extraterrestrials abducting those people or involves the annihilation of those people or involves anything else other than the Rapture.

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When studying the Word of God, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Hebrews 4:12:

“Indeed, the Word of God is alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit and of the joints and the marrow and is a critic of thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Note: The heart refers to the mind.

It is also beneficial to keep in mind the content of 2 Timothy 3:16–17 when studying the Word of God:

“All Scripture is God breathed and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God might be mature, having been thoroughly furnished unto all good work.”

It is the responsibility of a pastor-teacher to endeavor to correctly understand the Word of God and then to accurately teach the Word of God, as per the content of 2 Timothy 2:15:

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the Word of Truth.”

A pastor-teacher is a communicator rather than a crutch on which to be leaned. In that regard, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping a pastor-teacher. Likewise, a believer should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping anyone other than the Trinity [God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit], as per Joshua 24:15, the content of which references Joshua speaking to the Israelites:

If it is disagreeable/bad/evil/wrong/wretchedness/displeasing in your sight to serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, choose for yourselves today whom you serve/worship: whether the gods ['elohiym / false gods] which your fathers have served/worshiped which were beyond the river or the gods ['elohiym / false gods] of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One.

Note: Joshua, the leader of the Israelites after Joshua had been serving as the assistant of Moses while Moses was the leader of the Israelites, set the example for the Israelites. Joshua chose to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship God the Father rather than Joshua choosing to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship the lesser of multiple evils amongst multiple choices of 'elohiym [el-oh-HEEM]. The word 'elohiym with a lowercase e can refer to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges. The word 'Elohiym with a capital E refers to the Trinity. The word 'elohiym can also be used to refer to might as in mightiness. In that regard, the use of the word 'elohiym in reference to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges involves the connotation of mightiness in comparison to an average human. When a person puts oneʼs trust in and thereby serves as a devoted follower of and thus worships an angel or human, that angel or human is that personʼs false god. Regarding the foregoing, the content of Joshua 24:15 involves Joshua calling attention to the choices that the Israelites had, and that content involves Joshua permitting the Israelites to make their choices while Joshua led by example with his choice.

The gift of pastor-teacher is for the purpose of each pastor-teacher functioning as a messenger who communicates the Word of God rather than functioning as a priest between the Trinity and mankind. In that regard, the time period that can be referred to as the Church Age started fifty days after the Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected, and all Church Age believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are priests. The Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest of Church Age believers, and believers should be willing to acknowledge/confess/profess to people the believersʼ faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, as per Hebrews 4:14–15:

Therefore, since we have a great High Priest Who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast the acknowledgment/confession/profession. Indeed, we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One Who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek [mel-KIZ-uh-dek], who was the ruler of Salem when Abraham was still named Abram. Melchizedek was both a king and a priest, as per Genesis 14:18, which references Melchizedek greeting Abram:

Then Melchizedek king of Salem has brought out bread and wine, and he is a priest of 'El [AYL] 'Elyown [el-YOHN] / God [focusing on God the Fatherʼs power] Most High.

The Lord Jesus Christ is also both a king and a priest because the Lord is the Priest according to the order of Melchizedek, as per Hebrews 7:14–17:

Indeed, it is evident that our Lord has arisen from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. Also, it is still much more evident: that according to the similarity of Melchizedek, Another of a different type of priest arises, Who has become such not on the basis of a law of fleshly command / physical requirement but according to the power of an indestructible life. Indeed, it is attested: “YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER, ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.”

Note: The Lord Jesus Christ is from the tribe of Judah. Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is qualified to be a priest because He was resurrected and therefore has an indestructible body. The above content in all capital letters is a reference to Psalm 110:4.

Because a king is royalty, a king who is a priest is a royal priest. In that regard, Church Age believers are royalty because they are members of the Lord Jesus Christʼs family. Therefore, all Church Age believers are royal priests, as per 1 Peter 2:9–10:

However, you are A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR ACQUISITION/PRESERVATION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him Who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are GODʼS PEOPLE. You had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.

Note: Before the Church Age, Gentiles were not Godʼs people. In the Church Age, both Jewish and Gentile believers are Godʼs people. The content of 1 Peter 2:10 references Hosea 2:23. In that regard, Peter uses references involving Israel in the Old Testament to refer to Church Age believers.

Itʼs the message rather than the messenger that should be the focus of the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Put succinctly: itʼs the message rather than the messenger. In that regard, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Revelation 22:8–9, which was written by the apostle John, who, in addition to writing The Revelation to John, wrote The Gospel According to John, The First Epistle of John, The Second Epistle of John, and The Third Epistle of John:

I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things, and when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things, but he says* to me, “Do not do that. I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”

*Note: The word says is in the Greek historical present tense. By means of the Greek historical present tense, past action or future action can be described from the perspective of someone seeing the action as it occurs.

Regarding messages, believers should use the Word of God to examine what is being communicated. That is what the Bereans who are mentioned in Acts 17:10–12 did:

The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, who, when they arrived, went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, who received the word with all eagerness / readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. Therefore, many of them believed, and not a few prominent Greek women and men.

Note: The phrase not a few means “quite a few.”

Today, the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to meet believers in the Lord Jesus Christ in the clouds on the occasion of the Rapture is one day closer than it was yesterday. The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies. Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies. While it is possible that the Rapture will occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh]—which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during August, September, or October of 2026, it is worthwhile for believers in the Lord Jesus Christ to get into the habit of being prepared every day for the return of the Lord, just in case the Rapture will occur on a day other than the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah. Furthermore, it is worthwhile to be in the habit of being prepared for the Rapture so that if it does occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah, one can be prepared for that day because of already being in the habit of being prepared. Examples of being prepared for the Rapture include applying the content of 1 John 1:9 whenever one sins, being unselfish, and whenever circumstances are such that an opportunity arises, sharing the gospel—the good news that believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior Who was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity is the means by which a person is able to have eternal life. Regarding sharing the gospel, one could also have a written or printed message containing the gospel with that written or printed message located somewhere where it could be easily noticed so that if a person or people were to read or hear that written or printed message either before or after the Rapture occurs, that person or people would thereby read or hear the gospel by means of that written or printed message.

Regarding information about the Rapture, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 and 1 Corinthians 15:51–52:

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18

Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope, for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again—and we do indeed believe that Jesus died and rose again—so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. Indeed, this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive who remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep, for the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout of command, with a voice of an archangel and with a trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive who remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, comfort one another with these words.

1 Corinthians 15:51–52

Behold, I tell you a mystery: we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for a trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.

After the Rapture will be the seven-year Tribulation. The believers who will be alive on the earth when the Rapture occurs will escape the Tribulation. 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 covers that topic. In that regard, in the book 1 Thessalonians, the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 is immediately followed by the content of 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11.

1 Thessalonians 5:1–11

Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you, for you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord is coming just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. However, you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief, for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; therefore, let us not sleep as others, but let us be alert and sober. Indeed, those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. However, since we are of day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and benevolence/goodwill, and as a helmet, the hope / absolute confidence of deliverance, for God has not destined us for wrath but for obtaining deliverance through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. Therefore, comfort one another and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

Note: In this context, the day of the Lord is the time period that consists of the Rapture, the seven years of the Tribulation, and the Second Advent. In that regard, deliverance from the Tribulation is the deliverance in this context. Also, unspecified is who will be saying “Peace and safety!” In this context, sleeping refers to a lack of alertness. The alertness in this context involves being ready for the Rapture. In order to be ready for the Rapture, a believer needs to be filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and to pay attention for historical trends such as people saying “Peace and safety!” and for historical trends that match the pattern of the world being on the brink of tremendous calamities like those that will occur during the Tribulation. Regarding being filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity. After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored. The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1. Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30. In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit. Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19. In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer. After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.

The verses of the day for July 16th are Colossians 2:9–10. The title of the book Colossians is also known as “The Epistle of Paul to the Colossians” and “The Letter of Paul to the Colossians.” Colossians was a letter written by the apostle Paul to believers in the Lord Jesus Christ who were located in Colossae [kuh-LAHS-igh or kuh-LAHS-ee]. Some people refer to the city as Colosse [kuh-LAHS-ee]. The spelling Colossae and the pronunciation kuh-LAHS-igh are closer to the spelling and pronunciation of the Koine [KOI-nay] Greek name of the city: Κολοσσαί [pronounced kah-lahs-SIGH and transliterated as Kolossai]. In Koine Greek, the diphthong [DIFF-thahng or DIP-thahng] ai is pronounced just like the English word eye. Likewise, in Latin, the diphthong ae is pronounced just like the English word eye. Also, when a word is transliterated from Greek into Latin, the letter k is replaced by the letter c.

For geographical context, below is a link to a map that shows the locations of Colossae and Laodicea [lay-uh-dih-SEE-uh or lay-ahd-ih-SEE-uh]. On that map, the word Hierapolis [high-uh-RAP-uh-liss] is misspelled with the i and the e transposed.

https://NETBible.org/media/images/constable/51Col-1.jpg

Below is a link to a map that shows the seven churches of Revelation. The key for that map is located in grid coordinates B3 and C3. The seven churches of Revelation are located in grid coordinate B2. A list of those seven churches, sorted in order of mention in Revelation 2–3, is located in grid coordinate D1. Laodicea is located in grid coordinate B2.

https://Classic.NET.Bible.org/images/maps/nt2.jpg

If the above link is inaccessible, the below link can be tried instead.

https://NETBible.org/media/images/maps/nt2.jpg

Because it is useful to study verses in the context of the verses around them, below is content related to Colossians 2.

Note: In some of the below notes for Colossians 2, the Church Age is referenced. With regard to the Church Age, below is a synopsis of human history as categorized into time periods known as dispensations. In the below synopsis, there is the term hypostatic union [high-PUH-stat-ick YOON-yuhn]. This refers to the Lord Jesus Christ being 100% Deity and 100% humanity. The English word hypostatic is derived from the Koine [KOI-nay] Greek word ὑπόστασις [pronounced hoo-PAH-stah-sees and transliterated as hypostasis]. After the Lord Jesus Christ was judged for the sins of humanity, His body was in the grave for three days and three nights. He was then resurrected, and He was on the earth for forty days after He was resurrected. He then ascended to Heaven, and ten days after that, the Day of Pentecost [PEN-tih-kahst] occurred. The Day of Pentecost was the beginning of the Church Age. The word Pentecost is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντηκοστή [pronounced pen-tay-kah-STAY and transliterated as pentēkostē]. That word is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντήκοντα [pronounced pen-TAY-kahn-tah and transliterated as pentēkonta], which means “fifty.” Therefore, the word Pentecost is derived from the fact that that day occurred fifty days after the Lord was resurrected. In that regard, the Church Age began fifty days after the Lord was resurrected. The Church Age will end with the Rapture. The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies. Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies. Absent from the Bible is anything specifically indicating the precise date and time when the Rapture will occur, although it is possible that the Rapture will occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh]—which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during September or October of 2026.

Dispensation	Start	Ending or Interruption

Age of the Gentiles	Adam	The Age of the Gentiles ended with the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt.

Age of Israel	Exodus	The Age of Israel was interrupted on the Day of Pentecost.

Age of the Hypostatic Union (part of the Age of Israel)	First Advent of Christ	The Age of the Hypostatic Union ended with the Ascension of Christ.

Church Age	Day of Pentecost	The Church Age will end with the Rapture of the Church.

Tribulation (Age of Israel resumed)	Rapture	The Tribulation will end with the Second Advent of Christ.

Millennium	Second Advent	The 1,000-year Millennium will end with the Great White Throne Judgment of unbelievers.

Eternal State	Great White Throne Judgment	The Eternal State will be never-ending.

Regarding the word judgment, the proper way to spell that word is without an e between the dg and the m. In that regard, the e of the root word judge is dropped when the suffix ment is added to that root word. The formation of the word judgment is shown below.

judge −e +ment

= judg +ment

= judgment

Another way to categorize human history is by means of civilizations. Civilizations begin only with believers. Regarding the timing of civilizations and dispensations, the first civilization began with Adam and ended on the occasion of the Great Flood (also known as the Flood). That civilization is known as the antediluvian civilization and the predulivian civilization. In that regard, the prefixes ante and pre mean “before.” Also, there are various spellings of the adjectives that refer to the time before the Flood. Those spellings include antediluvian, ante-diluvian, prediluvian, and pre-diluvian.

After the Flood, there were only eight believers on the earth: Noah, his wife, their three sons, and their sonsʼ wives. With the removal of the unbelievers from the earth on the occasion of the Flood, a new civilization was started. That civilization is known as the postdiluvian civilization (also known as the postdiluvial civilization). Regarding the terminology, the prefix post means “after,” and the adjectives diluvian and diluvial mean “having to do with a flood.” Also, there are various spellings of the adjectives that refer to the time after the Flood. Those spellings include postdiluvian, post-diluvian, postdiluvial, and post-diluvial. The postdiluvian civilization will end on the occasion of the Second Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ. On the occasion of the Second Advent, the Lord will remove all unbelievers from the earth. Their removal will be by means of physical death just as the removal of all unbelievers was by means of physical death on the occasion of the Flood. This is called the Baptism of Fire, which is either a metaphorical description because fire can be used to represent judgment or a literal reference to the use of fire in the judgment of unbelievers on the occasion of the Second Advent. The Baptism of Fire is referenced in Matthew 3:11–12; Luke 3:15–17; and 2 Thessalonians 1:7–9.

Just as a new civilization started after the Flood, so also a new civilization will start after the Baptism of Fire. That civilization is called the Millennium. The Millennium is both a civilization and a dispensation. The Eternal State is also both a civilization and a dispensation.

Colossians 2:1

Indeed, I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea and for all those who have not seen my face in the flesh,

Note: The phrase have not seen my face in the flesh refers to not having seen Paul personally.

Colossians 2:2

that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in benevolence/goodwill and to all wealth of the full assurance of understanding, to epignōsis knowledge / full knowledge of Godʼs mystery: Christ,

Note: The Koine [KOI-nay] Greek noun that is translated as “hearts” in this verse is καρδίαι [pronounced kar-DEE-igh and transliterated as kardiai]. That noun is an inflected form of the root word καρδία [pronounced kar-DEE-ah and transliterated as kardia]. At the time that Colossians was written, the Koine Greek noun kardia referred to the mind rather than to the emotions.

Where benevolence/goodwill is found in the translation of Colossians 2:2 above, the New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB 1995) and New American Standard Bible 2020 (NASB 2020) versions have love. The NASB 1995 and NASB 2020 have the noun love as a translation of more than one Koine Greek noun. Each of those Koine Greek nouns has different nuances of meaning. In Colossians 2:2, the Koine Greek noun that is translated into English as “benevolence” or “goodwill” is ἀγάπῃ [pronounced ah-GAH-pay and transliterated as agapē]. That noun is an inflected form of the root word ἀγάπη [pronounced ah-GAH-pay and transliterated as agapē (some people leave the macron—a diacritical mark that looks like a horizontal line above a letter—off the e and transliterate the word as agape)].

The terms epignōsis knowledge and full knowledge found in the above translation of Colossians 2:2 are translations of the Koine [KOI-nay] Greek noun ἐπίγνωσιν [pronounced eh-PEE-know-seen and transliterated into English as epignōsin]. That noun is an inflected form of the root word ἐπίγνωσις [pronounced eh-PEE-know-sees and transliterated as epignōsis (some people leave the macron off the o and transliterate the word as epignosis)]. In the New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB 1995) and New American Standard Bible 2020 (NASB 2020) translations of various verses, the word epignōsis is translated as “knowledge,” “real knowledge,” and “true knowledge.” Sometimes, the NASB 1995 and NASB 2020 translations also have footnotes indicating that epignōsis can be translated as “recognition.” When precisely translated, rather than simply referring to knowledge, the word epignōsis refers to that which is above or beyond ordinary knowledge. The Koine Greek word for ordinary knowledge is γνῶσις [pronounced KNOW-sees and transliterated as gnōsis or gnosis]. In the Bible, epignōsis is used to refer to knowledge of the Word of God.

The Koine Greek noun that is translated as “mystery” in this verse is μυστηρίου [pronounced moo-stay-REE-oo and transliterated as mystēriou]. That noun is an inflected form of the root word μυστήριον [pronounced moo-STAY-ree-ahn and transliterated as mystērion]. Regarding the use of the word mystery in this verse, some details about the Lord Jesus Christ were mysteries before the New Testament was completed.

In this verse, Paul uses wordplay with the word mystery. In that regard, the Koine Greek noun mystērion had a connotation related to the culture in which the Colossian believers lived, and Paul instead used that word with a connotation related to the Word of God. In that regard, at the time that Paul wrote this epistle, the Colossian believers lived in the midst of the culture Greco-Roman [GREK-oh-ROH-muhn] (also known as Graeco-Roman [GREK-oh-ROH-muhn]). An aspect of Greco-Roman culture was paganism, which involved the worshiping of false gods.

In Greco-Roman culture, some of the worshiping of false gods involved mystery religions. Those mystery religions involved rituals. Those mystery religions also involved secrecy. In that regard, some of the activities of those mystery religions were secret such that only people who were initiated into a mystery religion were supposed to know about the secret activities of that mystery religion, and those activities were supposed to be hidden from the people who had not been initiated into that mystery religion. The mystery religions can also be referred to as mystery cults.

Regarding initiation and Paulʼs use of the word mystērion in this verse, absent from this verse and the surrounding verses is anything indicating that a person must go through any initiation rituals in order to be able to understand the Bible doctrines referred to as mysteries. Instead, a person simply needs to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior and to then be in fellowship with the Trinity [God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit] and thereby filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit. In that regard, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity. After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored. The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1. Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30. In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit. Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19. In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer. After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.

The only ritual that content in the New Testament indicates that believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are commanded to participate in is Communion (also known as the Eucharist). Content in the New Testament indicates that believers can participate in water baptism, but absent from the New Testament is a command that believers must participate in water baptism. Any other rituals are traditions of men rather than what is authorized by the Word of God.

In modern times, there are fraternities and sororities that involve activities similar to what the ancient mystery cults involved. Also, there are Christian churches that involve activities similar to what the ancient mystery cults involved, including elaborate rituals. Those such churches are involved in traditions of men rather than being involved in what the content of the Bible indicates. In that regard, if a Christian church is involved in rituals that are absent from the New Testament, then that church imitates the mystery rites of ancient pagan religions. Therefore, if a Christian church is involved in rituals that are absent from the New Testament, then that church either is involved in syncretism [SING-krih-tihz-uhm or SING-kruh-tihz-uhm], which is the mixing of false notions with principles of the Word of God, or is a pagan entity masquerading as Christianity.

Regarding Christian churches being involved in rituals that are absent from the New Testament, some people might assert that those rituals are truly legitimate because those rituals are part of long-standing traditions of churches that have existed for many years. When something is asserted as true, rather than whether or not that assertion is true being based on an assertion involving old church or new age or old anything else or new anything else, the logic of what is asserted must stand on its own without any appeal to agedness or modernity or any age level in between. In that regard, asserting that a ritual is legitimate because that ritual is old is a logical fallacy—in other words, it is illogical. What determines whether or not a ritual is legitimate is the content of the Scriptures—in other words, the content of the Bible. Also, some people claim that church traditions that are absent from the Bible are part of the Word of God. In that regard, the content of Acts 17:10–12 indicates that the Bereans searched the Scriptures rather than searching traditions. Below is content related to Acts 17:10–12.

Acts 17:10–12

Note: The phrase not a few means “quite a few.”

Regarding traditions that are absent from the Bible, whereas the Lord Jesus Christ called a certain person woman, churches are involved in referring to that person as the queen of heaven. The content of John 2:1–5 covers the topic of the Lord referring to that person as woman. That woman then responded positively to the authority of the Lord. In that regard, below is content related to John 2:1–5. In the below content, the words of the Lord Jesus Christ are in red.

John 2:1

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there,

John 2:2

and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding.

John 2:3

When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus says to Him, “They have no wine.”

John 2:4

Then Jesus says to her, “What to Me and to you, woman? My hour has not yet come.”

John 2:5

His mother says to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”

Note: The content of John 2:1–5 references the Lord Jesus Christ referring to Mary with the word woman rather than any wording involving the Lord indicating Mary having a higher rank than the Lord. Furthermore, Maryʼs response to the Lord involved Mary being subordinate to the authority of the Lord. In addition, the Lordʼs use of the word woman involved an absence of any reference to a goddess or the queen of heaven.

Absent from the Bible is anything referring to Mary as the queen of heaven. Also, all of the Bible verses that reference the queen of heaven do that referencing with a negative connotation. In that regard, the term queen of heaven is found in Jeremiah 7:18; Jeremiah 44:17; Jeremiah 44:18; Jeremiah 44:19; and Jeremiah 44:25. Below is a link related to the term queen of heaven.

https://www.BLBClassic.org/search/translationResults.cfm?Criteria=queen+of+heaven&t=NASB95

Below is a link related to the term queen of the heavens, which is a more literal translation that is in the content of Youngʼs Literal Translation (YLT). The Youngʼs Literal Translation, which is a very literal translation of the Bible, was produced in the late 1800s by the Scottish publisher Robert Young. The tenses of the verbs in the YLT version are sometimes different than the tenses of the verbs in some other English translations. In that regard, the YLT version is more literal, and some other translations involve more paraphrasing.

https://www.BLBClassic.org/search/translationResults.cfm?Criteria=queen+of+the+heavens&t=YLT

There are churches that, in addition to being involved in the tradition of referring to the mother of Jesus by a title that has a negative connotation in all of the Bible verses in which that title is found, are involved in a tradition involving the referring to members of the hierarchical structure of those churches as priests instead of the referring to all Church Age believers in the Lord Jesus Christ as priests. In the Church Age, all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are royal priests. In that regard, the content of Hebrews 4:14–15 indicates that the Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest of all Church Age believers. Regarding the word royal, the content of Hebrews 5:10 indicates that the Lord Jesus Christ is a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek [mel-KIZ-uh-dek], who was the ruler of Salem when Abraham was still named Abram. Melchizedek was both a king and a priest; therefore, the Lord Jesus Christ is also both a king and a priest. Because a king is royalty, a king who is a priest is a royal priest. Church Age believers are royalty because they are members of the Lord Jesus Christʼs family. In that regard, the content of 1 Peter 2:9 indicates that Church Age believers are royal priests. Below is content related to 1 Peter 2:9–10.

1 Peter 2:9

Note: In 1 Peter 2:9, Peter uses references involving Israel in the Old Testament to refer to Church Age believers. Ancient Israel had had the responsibility of sharing with the world the good news that the means of receiving eternal life is—for those who believed before the Lord Jesus Christʼs public ministry was revealed—by means of believing that God the Son would take the form of the One sinless Human Who would be judged for the sins of humanity, that the means of receiving eternal life is—for those who believed after the Lord Jesus Christʼs public ministry was revealed and before the Lord Jesus Christ was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity—by means of believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is that sinless Human Who would be judged for the sins of humanity, and that the means of receiving eternal life is—for those who believe after the Lord Jesus Christ was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity—by means of believing that Jesus Christ is that sinless Human Who was judged for the sins of humanity. An insufficient number of Israelites fulfilled that good-news-sharing responsibility. Consequently, that responsibility has been given to nations that are outside the land of Israel. This status will continue until the Church Age ends with the Rapture. After the Rapture, the very end of the Age of Israel will occur during the seven-year Tribulation, which will begin with the Rapture, end with the Second Advent of the Lord, and then be followed by the 1,000-year Millennial reign of the Lord on the earth.

In the content of 1 Peter 2:9, Peter calls attention to the fact that during the Church Age, all believers, regardless of whether they are Jews or Gentiles, have the duty of presenting the gospel (the good news of faith alone in Jesus Christ alone for eternal life) to unbelievers. In that regard, 1 Peter 2:9 indicates that all Church Age believers are priests. The phrase CHOSEN PEOPLE is found in Isaiah 43:20. The phrase PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR ACQUISITION/PRESERVATION refers to Exodus 19:5–6.

1 Peter 2:10

for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are GODʼS PEOPLE. You had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.

Note: In this verse, Peter refers to the fact that during the Age of Israel, Gentiles were not Godʼs people. In the Church Age, both Jewish and Gentile believers are Godʼs people. This verse references Hosea 2:23. As with 1 Peter 2:9, in 1 Peter 2:10, Peter uses references involving Israel in the Old Testament to refer to Church Age believers.

A church that is involved in the use of the word priest in a way other than to refer to all Church Age believers is a church that empowers people who falsely claim that they exclusively are priests when the New Testament indicates that all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are priests. In that regard, people in such churches can become enslaved to the people who falsely claim that they exclusively are priests. Also, a church that is involved in the use of the word father in a way other than to refer to a man in authority within the scope of a family is a church that empowers such people who are referred to as fathers. In that regard, people in such churches can become enslaved to such people who are referred to as fathers.

The content of Colossians 2:2 is repeated below for reference.

Colossians 2:2

Colossians 2:3

in Whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Note: The phrase wisdom and knowledge is a hendiadys [hen-DIGH-uh-diss], which is a figure of speech in which two words joined by the word and are used to express a single thought when one of those words could be used to describe the other word. The phrase wise knowledge expresses the same thought. In that regard, wise knowledge about how to live life as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ involves information related to the Lord Jesus Christ. Also, learning that information requires effort just as searching for a literal hidden treasure requires effort.

Colossians 2:4

I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument.

Colossians 2:5

Indeed, even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing and perceiving your orderly condition and the stability of your faith in Christ.

Note: In this verse, the phrase I am with you in spirit refers to thinking the same way. In particular, Paul was referring to himself and the Colossians thinking in terms of the Word of God. In that regard, Paul was referring to thinking in terms of divine viewpoint. The term divine viewpoint refers to the viewpoint of the Trinity. All three Members of the Trinity have the same viewpoint. Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ can learn divine viewpoint by learning the Word of God. Therefore, divine viewpoint is the viewpoint that comes from a proper understanding of the Word of God. In contrast with divine viewpoint is human viewpoint. The term human viewpoint refers to any viewpoint that deviates from the Word of God. With human-viewpoint thinking, a person has unrealistic expectations regarding life. Such a person is divorced from reality.

The Koine Greek noun that is translated as “orderly condition” in this verse is τάξιν [pronounced TAH-kseen and transliterated as taxin]. That noun is an inflected form of the root word τάξις [pronounced TAH-ksees and transliterated as taxis]. The Koine Greek noun that is translated as “stability” in this verse is στερέωμα [pronounced steh-REH-oh-mah and transliterated as stereōma]. That noun is an inflected form of the root word στερέωμα [pronounced steh-REH-oh-mah and transliterated as stereōma]. There is only instance of the noun stereōma in the New Testament.

Colossians 2:6

Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,

Note: The word walk as used in Colossians 2:6 refers to how one conducts oneʼs life. In that regard, just as each believer has received the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior by means of faith that He is the Savior, so also each believer should conduct that believerʼs life by means of faith in the Lord taking care of the circumstances of life for that believer.

Colossians 2:7

having been firmly rooted, being built up in Him and being established by means of faith/doctrine—just as you were instructed—overflowing with [one early manuscript reads in it with] gratitude.

Note: In this verse, the phrase having been firmly rooted refers to eternal salvation. The Koine Greek verb that is translated as “having been firmly rooted” in this verse is ἐρριζωμένοι [pronounced ehr-ree-dzoh-MEH-noi and transliterated as errizōmenoi]. That verb is an inflected form of the root word ῥιζόω [pronounced hree-DZAH-oh and transliterated as rhizoō].

Regarding the verb rhizoō, the inflected form errizōmenoi is perfect passive participle. In the phrase perfect passive participle, the word perfect refers to the perfect tense, the word passive indicates that the subject of the verb receives the action of the verb, and the word participle refers to a verb used as an adjective. In the Koine Greek language, the perfect tense refers to completed action that has results that are ongoing. In that regard, the perfect tense in Koine Greek has a connotation of results that can never be undone—in other words, those results last forever. Therefore, the verb errizōmenoi in this verse indicates that each believer in the Lord Jesus Christ has eternal security, which means that the salvation of a believer can never be lost. Because the verb errizōmenoi is in the passive voice, this verb indicates that the person being saved receives the action of saving rather than doing the action of saving. Therefore, the verb errizōmenoi in this verse indicates that a person is unable to obtain eternal salvation by means of that personʼs works.

In this verse, the phrase being built up refers to the edification of a believer—in other words, the building up of the truth of the Word of God in the soul of a believer. The Koine Greek verb that is translated as “being built up” in this verse is ἐποικοδομούμενοι [pronounced eh-poi-kah-dah-MOO-meh-noi and transliterated as epoikodomoumenoi]. That verb is an inflected form of the root word ἐποικοδομέω [pronounced eh-poi-kah-dah-MEH-oh and transliterated as epoikodomeō]. The inflected form epoikodomoumenoi is present passive participle. In the phrase present passive participle, the word present refers to the present tense, the word passive indicates that the subject of the verb receives the action of the verb, and the word participle refers to a verb used as an adjective. At the moment of believing in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior, the thinking of a believer has been edified with the knowledge that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior. After the moment of believing in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior, the edification of that believer needs to continue. In that regard, the fact that epoikodomoumenoi is in the present tense calls attention to the fact that the edification of a believer needs to continue after the moment that that believer believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior. Regarding the edification of a believer being referenced by means of the passive-tense verb epoikodomoumenoi, the phrase just as you were instructed is in this verse. In that regard, the content of this verse calls attention to the fact that the edification of a believer is the result of instruction that that believer receives.

In this verse, the phrase being established refers to being stabilized in oneʼs thinking. The Koine Greek verb that is translated as “being established” in this verse is βεβαιούμενοι [pronounced beh-bigh-OO-meh-noi and transliterated as bebaioumenoi]. That verb is an inflected form of the root word βεβαιόω [pronounced beh-bigh-AH-oh and transliterated as bebaioō]. The inflected form bebaioumenoi is present passive participle. As mentioned further above, the word present refers to the present tense, the word passive indicates that the subject of the verb receives the action of the verb, and the word participle refers to a verb used as an adjective.

The means by which a believer is stabilized in that believerʼs thinking is by means of faith in the Word of God. In that regard, the Koine Greek noun that is translated as “faith” or “doctrine” in this verse is πίστει [pronounced PEE-stay and transliterated as pistei]. That word is an inflected form of the root word πίστις [pronounced PEE-stees and transliterated as pistis]. The word pistis can be used to refer to faith or to doctrine, depending on the context. In that regard, the word faith refers to oneʼs action of believing in something, and the word doctrine refers to that in which one believes. In the context of this verse, the word doctrine refers to Bible doctrine, which is the Word of God.

In this verse, Paul indicates that believers should have a grateful attitude towards the Trinity. In that regard, Paul indicates that believers should have gratitude that is overflowing—in other words, believers should have an abundance of gratitude. The Koine Greek noun that is translated as “gratitude” in this verse is εὐχαριστίᾳ [pronounced yoo-khah-ree-STEE-ah and transliterated as eucharistia]. That noun is an inflected form of the root word εὐχαριστία [pronounced yoo-khah-ree-STEE-ah and transliterated as eucharistia]. The English noun Eucharist is derived from the Greek noun eucharistia.

Colossians 2:8

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

Note: In this verse, the Koine [KOI-nay] Greek noun that is translated as “world” refers to an organized system. In particular, it refers to the devilʼs organized system by means of which he rules the world. In that regard, some people use the term cosmos diabolicus [KAHZ-mahs digh-uh-BAHL-ih-kuhs] to refer to the devilʼs system for ruling the world. Cosmos diabolicus can also be referred to as the cosmic system. The Koine Greek noun translated as “world” in this verse is κόσμου [pronounced KAHS-moo and transliterated as kosmou]. That noun is an inflected form of the root word κόσμος [pronounced KAHS-mahs and transliterated as kosmos].

Colossians 2:9

Concerning that, in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form.

Note: The Lord Jesus Christ is 100% Deity and 100% humanity. The Lord being 100% Deity and 100% humanity can be referred to using the term hypostatic union [high-PUH-stat-ick YOON-yuhn]. The English word hypostatic is derived from the Koine [KOI-nay] Greek word ὑπόστασις [pronounced hoo-PAH-stah-sees and transliterated as hypostasis].

Colossians 2:10

Also, in Him you have been filled up, and He is the Head of every ruler and authority/power.

Note: In this verse, the Koine Greek verb that is translated as “you have been filled up” is πεπληρωμένοι [pronounced peh-play-roh-MEH-noi and transliterated as peplērōmenoi]. That verb is an inflected form of the root word πληρόω [pronounced play-RAH-oh and transliterated as plēroō]. The inflected form peplērōmenoi is perfect passive participle. As mentioned in the notes for verse 7, the word perfect refers to the perfect tense, the word passive indicates that the subject of the verb receives the action of the verb, and the word participle refers to a verb used as an adjective. In the Koine Greek language, the perfect tense refers to completed action that has results that are ongoing. In that regard, the perfect tense in Koine Greek has a connotation of results that can never be undone—in other words, those results last forever. Because the verb peplērōmenoi is in the perfect tense, the filling up that is referenced in this verse has already been accomplished. In verse 7, Paul used a perfect-tense verb to refer to eternal salvation of a believer, and he used a present-tense verb to refer to the edification of a believer. In that regard, it is logical to conclude that the filling up that is referenced in verse 10 is related to the eternal salvation of a believer rather than to the edification of a believer.

Regarding the filling up that is referenced in verse 10 being related to the eternal salvation of a believer, the phrase in Him you have been filled up calls attention to the fact that eternal salvation is by means of believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior and by nothing else. In that regard, adding works to believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior is unnecessary for eternal salvation. If works were needed to be added to believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior for eternal salvation, then the content of this verse would need to indicate that the recipients of this epistle had not yet been filled up.

The phrase He is the Head of every ruler and authority/power refers to the Lord Jesus Christ having authority over all creatures that have authority or power over other creatures. The Koine Greek noun that is translated as “Head” in this verse is Κεφαλὴ [pronounced keh-fah-LAY and transliterated as Kephalē]. That noun is an inflected form of the root word κεφαλή [pronounced keh-fah-LAY and transliterated as kephalē]. Regarding the foregoing, absent from the Bible is anything referring to a queen of heaven having authority over the Lord Jesus Christ. Instead, the Lord Jesus Christ is the Head over all creatures that have authority or power over other creatures.

The Koine Greek noun that is translated as “ruler” in this verse is ἀρχῆς [pronounced ahr-KHAYS and transliterated as archēs]. That noun is an inflected form of the root word ἀρχή [pronounced ahr-KHAY and transliterated as archē]. The Koine Greek noun that is translated as “power” in this verse is ἐξουσίας [pronounced ehks-oo-SEE-ahs and transliterated as exousias]. That noun is an inflected form of the root word ἐξουσία [pronounced ehks-oo-SEE-ah and transliterated as exousia]. As used in this verse, the word power refers to a creature that is powerful.

Colossians 2:11

In Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ,

Note: In this verse, the phrase the body of the flesh is a metaphor involving the removal of flesh that occurs when a boy or man is circumcised. That metaphorical reference to the removal of flesh calls attention to the change of a status that occurs for a person when that person believes in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior. In that regard, when Abraham was circumcised, his status changed from a status of being unable to beget children—which was a status of sexual death—to a status of being able to beget children—which was a status of sexual life. That change of status that Abraham experienced is a teaching illustration about the change of status experienced by a person when that person believes in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior. That change of status is the change from a status of spiritual death to a status of spiritual life. In that regard, the phrase circumcision of Christ refers to the fact that at the moment of salvation, each believer in the Lord Jesus Christ receives a human spirit, which is a believerʼs essence that involves thinking of Bible doctrine—in other words, thinking that involves the Word of God. An unbeliever lacks a human spirit. In contrast with a human spirit, a soul is a personʼs essence that involves thinking in general. Each unbeliever has a body and soul; therefore, unbelievers are dichotomous [digh-KAHT-uh-muhs]. Each believer has a body, soul, and human spirit; therefore, believers are trichotomous [trigh-KAHT-uh-muhs].

Colossians 2:12

having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, Who raised Him from deaths.

Note: In this verse, the Koine Greek noun that is translated as “deaths” is νεκρῶν [pronounced neh-KROHN and transliterated as nekrōn]. That noun is an inflected form of the root word νεκρός [pronounced neh-KRAHS and transliterated as nekros]. In this verse, the inflected form of nekros is plural. In that regard, when the Lord Jesus Christ was on the cross, He died spiritually, and after He died spiritually, he died physically.

The Lordʼs spiritual death involved Him being judged for the sins of humanity. That judging of the Lord lasted three hours; therefore, that judging of Him was temporary. After the judging of Him was completed, the Lord died physically. Because the Lordʼs spiritual death was temporary, He was metaphorically raised from spiritual death. In that regard, God the Father judged the Lord, and God the Father ended the judging of the Lord when the Lord had been judged for every single sin of humanity. Therefore, God the Father metaphorically raised the Lord from spiritual death because God the Father ended the spiritual death of the Lord.

The Lordʼs physical death occurred after the Lord had been judged for every single sin of humanity. Three days after He died physically, the Lord was resurrected. Because God the Father is the Member of the Trinity Who does the planning, God the Father was involved in the resurrecting of the Lord.

Rather than referring to water baptism, the baptism mentioned in this verse refers to God the Holy Spirit baptizing Church Age believers in the Lord Jesus Christ into Jesus Christ, which means placing Church Age believers into union with the Person of Jesus Christ. At the moment of salvation for a Church Age believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, God the Holy Spirit baptizes the believer into union with Christ—in other words, God the Holy Spirit makes the believer associated with the Lord. This association with the Lord Jesus Christ is a guarantee of eternal security, which means that the salvation of a believer can never be lost. God the Holy Spirit baptizing a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ into Jesus Christ is known as positional sanctification.

The phrase having been buried with Him is a metaphorical reference to being associated with the Lord and His burial. That metaphor leads to the metaphorical reference of believers being raised up with the Lord. In that regard, the phrase in which you were also raised up with Him is a metaphorical reference to being associated with the Lord and His victory over death. The experience of each believer having victory over death will be completed when each believer receives a resurrection body. For Church Age believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, the receiving of a resurrection body will occur at the Rapture. Receiving a resurrection body is known as ultimate sanctification.

Colossians 2:13

When you were dead in [or by reason of] your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions,

Note: In this verse, the pronoun He refers to God the Father, and the pronoun Him refers to the Lord Jesus Christ. The reference to uncircumcision in this verse is a metaphorical reference to being an unbeliever. Likewise, the phrase When you were dead refers to being an unbeliever. As mentioned in the notes for verse 11, unbelievers are spiritually dead, and at the moment of salvation, each believer in the Lord Jesus Christ receives a human spirit.

Colossians 2:14

having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us, and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

Note: The phrase having canceled out the certificate of debt in this verse is a metaphorical reference to eternal judgment being canceled. In that regard, when a person believes in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior, that person receives eternal life, and that eternal life can never be lost because the eternal judgment of that person was canceled at the moment that that person became a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior. Also, absent from this verse and the surrounding verses is anything indicating that the certificate of debt can be reestablished. In that regard, eternal judgment of a believer can never be reestablished. Regarding the foregoing, this verse is an eternal-security verse. In other words, this verse calls attention to the fact that believers in the Lord Jesus Christ have eternal security. In other words, the eternal life of each believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is 100% guaranteed. In that regard, the phrase having nailed it to the cross in this verse is a metaphor that calls attention to the fact that the cancelation of eternal judgment for a person who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior is possible because the Lord Jesus Christ was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity. In that regard, absent from this verse and the surrounding verses is anything indicating that eternal salvation was made possible by anything other than the Lord Jesus Christ being judged on the cross for the sins of humanity.

Note: Inside the square brackets below, the letters i.e. are used to represent the phrase that is. The two letters are an abbreviation for the Latin words id est, which mean “that is.” When one reads those two letters, one can either say, “eye ee” or “that is.” If one is reading out loud, and if any hearers of that reading are unaware of what the letters i.e. represent, it is best to say “that is.” Also, the letters i.e. need to be followed by a comma.

Colossians 2:15

When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities/powers, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him [or it (i.e., the cross)].

Note: In this verse, the phrase the rulers and authorities/powers is a reference to fallen angels. Fallen angels are also known as demons. The disarming appears to be a reference to the Lord Jesus Christʼs strategic victory on the cross. In this victory, He won the angelic conflict, showing to the angels that God the Father is fair in decreeing judgment on the fallen angels. The angelic conflict is the conflict between the Trinity and the elect angels on one side and Satan and the fallen angels on the other side. This conflict has been raging for a long time, and it began sometime before the creation of mankind. How long the angelic conflict has been raging is unspecified in the Bible. Also, the specific means by which the struggle of the angelic conflict is waged is unspecified in the Bible. Whatever is the specific nature of that struggle, human beings were evidently created to resolve the angelic conflict. In that regard, it appears that at least one aspect of the angelic conflict involves argumentation and attempts at persuasion, such as in a court case. For example, when, in the Garden of Eden, the first woman was tricked by the serpent—whether the references to a serpent in Genesis 3 are metaphorical references to Satan appearing in a form other than that of a serpent or of something like a serpent or whether the references to a serpent in Genesis 3 are literal references to Satan appearing in the form of a serpent or of something like a serpent or whether the references to a serpent in Genesis 3 are literal references to Satan controlling a literal serpent—Satan persuaded the first woman to eat the forbidden fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Later, Satan caused Job to experience suffering. Later still, Satan tried to persuade the Lord Jesus Christ to sin. The Biblical accounts of those occasions indicate that Satan was arguing and trying to persuade.

The Lord Jesus Christ being punished on the cross for all of the sins of humanity shows the fallen angels that God the Father is fair because His plan included God the Son taking the form of a sinless human and being punished for all of humanityʼs sins so that humans can receive forgiveness and eternal life for free, as a gift. If God the Father were unfair, He would have refrained from offering the free gift of eternal life to fallen mankind. Instead, He sent God the Son to be judged so that people can receive the gift of eternal life for free.

Below is a review of John 3:14–16.

Below is a review of Ephesians 2:8–9.

“…for by grace you are saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, lest any man should boast.”

Colossians 2:16

Therefore, no one is to judge you regarding food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths—

Note: In Colossians 2:16, Paul refers to people who tried to make the Colossians adhere to regulations of the Mosaic Law. The term Mosaic Law refers to the laws communicated by Moses to the ancient Israelites. Because Moses communicated those laws, they are known collectively as the Mosaic Law. Now that the Lord Jesus Christ has been judged for the sins of humanity, the Mosaic Law has been fulfilled.

Regarding the phrase new moon in this verse, the ancient Hebrew ecclesiastical calendar differs from the modern calendar used in most of the world. In that regard, each month of the ancient Hebrew ecclesiastical calendar started at the sunset that preceded the sighting of the first appearance of the crescent new moon, which is the first appearance of a sliver of the moon after what some people refer to as the astronomical new moon, the time when there is an absence of reflection of light from the moon. In that regard, the ancient Hebrew ecclesiastical calendar had months that could be 29 or 30 days long. Sometimes, the number of days in the year of the ancient Hebrew ecclesiastical calendar had less than the number of days in the modern calendar used in most of the world. Sometimes, the number of days in the year of the ancient Hebrew ecclesiastical calendar had more than the number of days in the modern calendar used in most of the world. In the ancient Hebrew ecclesiastical calendar, the years with a number of days more than the number of days in the modern calendar have an extra month or extra months.

Regarding the word Sabbaths in this verse, under the regulations of the Mosaic Law, every seventh day was a Sabbath day, and every seventh year was a Sabbath year. The topic of the Sabbath year is referenced in Exodus 23:10–11 and Leviticus 25:1–7, and the topic of the Sabbath day is referenced in Exodus 23:12. Also, every fiftieth year was a Sabbath year. That year is known as the Year of Jubilee. In that regard, every forty-ninth year was also a Sabbath year; therefore, there would be two Sabbath years in a row during the time spanning every forty-ninth and fiftieth year. The topic of the Year of Jubilee is referenced in Leviticus 25:8–17. In addition, there were Sabbath days on certain days of the year each year. Those Sabbath days occurred during the times of celebrations of feasts that were part of the regulations of the Mosaic Law. Under the regulations of the Mosaic Law, there were seven feasts that the Israelites were supposed to celebrate each year.

Regarding the seven feasts that the Israelites were supposed to celebrate each year, the timing of those annual feasts was based on when each year started and on when each month of that year started. The first feast of each year was Passover, and it was supposed to be celebrated on the fourteenth day of the first month of the Hebrew ecclesiastical calendar. Regarding the first month, there was also a Hebrew civic calendar; the first month of that calendar was the seventh month of the Hebrew ecclesiastical calendar. Regarding the Feast of Passover being in the first month, that month and the first day of that month were determined in relation to Passover. In that regard, there had to be a certain amount of ripe barley that could be used for an offering during the feast known as the Feast of First Fruits (also spelled Firstfruits). The Feast of First Fruits occurs during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The Feast of Unleavened Bread is the second feast, and it occurs for seven days after the Feast of Passover. The Feast of First Fruits is the third feast. The matter of the ripeness of the barley is associated with the Hebrew name of the first month of the Hebrew ecclesiastical calendar.

The name of the first month of the Hebrew ecclesiastical calendar is derived from the Hebrew noun אָבִיב [pronounced ah-VEEV and can be transliterated as 'abiyb and abib and aviv]. (Hebrew is written and read from right to left.) The noun aviv refers to a status of barley crop in which the barley has yet to be completely ripe but has partially ripened. When the first month of the Hebrew ecclesiastical calendar is referenced in the Old Testament, the noun aviv is preceded by a Hebrew noun that can be translated as “month”; that noun is חֹדֶשׁ [pronounced KHOH-desh and can be transliterated as chodesh]. Regarding the translation of the combination of chodesh and aviv into English, the name of that month is sometimes translated as “Abib” [ah-BEEB] and sometimes translated as “Aviv” [ah-VEEV].

Absent from the Bible are any instructions regarding how the first day of Abib/Aviv was to be determined. While there is an absence of such instructions in the Bible, some details can be logically deduced from the content of some verses in the Bible. In that regard, the fact that the Passover was supposed to be celebrated on the fourteenth day of the first month of the Hebrew ecclesiastical calendar is referenced in Exodus 12:1–11; Leviticus 23:5; Numbers 9:1–3; and Numbers 28:16. The content of Exodus 12:28 references the fact that the first Passover was indeed celebrated in accordance with the commands contained in Exodus 12:1–11. The fact that the Exodus from Egypt occurred on the day of Passover is referenced in Exodus 12:12–51. Because the Passover was supposed to be celebrated on the fourteenth day of the first month of the Hebrew ecclesiastical calendar and because the first Passover was indeed celebrated in accordance with the commands contained in Exodus 12:1–11 and because the Exodus from Egypt occurred on the day of Passover, the Exodus occurred during the first month of the Hebrew ecclesiastical calendar. The fact that the month Abib/Aviv was the month in which the Exodus occurred is referenced in Exodus 13:4; Exodus 23:15; Exodus 34:18; and Deuteronomy 16:1. Because the Exodus occurred during the first month of the Hebrew ecclesiastical calendar and because the month Abib/Aviv was the month in which the Exodus occurred, the month Abib/Aviv is the first month of the Hebrew ecclesiastical calendar.

As mentioned further above, the name of the month Abib/Aviv is derived from the Hebrew noun that refers to a status of barley crop in which the barley has yet to be completely ripe but has partially ripened. In that regard, if by the fourteenth day of the month—which would be the thirteenth day after the sighting of the first appearance of the crescent new moon—there was an insufficient amount of barley crop in a status of abib/aviv before the Feast of Passover such that there would be an insufficient amount of completely ripe barley crop for an offering during the Feast of First Fruits, then the ecclesiastical new year would start in a later month. In contrast, if by the fourteenth day of the month there was a sufficient amount of barley crop in a status of abib/aviv before the Feast of Passover such that there would be a sufficient amount of completely ripe barley crop for an offering during the Feast of First Fruits, then that month would be the first month of the ecclesiastical new year.

Nowadays, some people try to use the foregoing method involving barley crop in Israel in order to try to determine the first day of the Hebrew month Abib/Aviv. In that regard, the date that those people conclude to be the first day of the year of the Hebrew ecclesiastical calendar can be different from the date that is concluded by people using a different method other than the foregoing method. Because any method other than the foregoing method is a method absent from the Word of God, any declarations of dates of feast days that people try to determine by any method other than the foregoing method will be incorrect except by coincidence. Therefore, before a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ concludes that the declaration of a date as being the date of a Mosaic Law feast day, that believer needs to find out whether that declaration about a date is based on the foregoing method involving barley crop in Israel or based on some other method. If it is based on some other method, that believer should refrain from assuming that that declaration about the date of a feast day is correct.

Also, there has been disagreement amongst people who try to determine the first day of the Hebrew month Abib/Aviv based on the status of barley crop in Israel. Such disagreeing involves whether there is a sufficient amount of completely ripe barley crop by the thirteenth day after the sighting of the first appearance of the crescent new moon—which would be the fourteenth day of the month. Therefore, before a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ concludes that the declaration of a date as being the date of a Mosaic Law feast day was correctly determined by means of the foregoing method involving barley crop in Israel, that believer needs to find out whether the person or people claiming to have seen the barley crop in Israel are telling the truth, and if that believer is able to find out whether the person or people claiming to have seen the barley crop in Israel are telling the truth, then that believer needs to find out whether the person or people claiming to have seen the barley crop correctly determined whether or not there was a sufficient amount of barley crop that would be completely ripe by the thirteenth day after the sighting of the first appearance of the crescent new moon—which would be the fourteenth day of the month.

The point of all of the aforementioned details regarding the determining of when the first day of the Hebrew ecclesiastical calendar occurs is that it might be impossible for a person who is located somewhere other than Israel to know with absolute certainty when the first day of the Hebrew ecclesiastical calendar actually occurs. That is relevant because significant events have occurred during the times of the first four feasts, and it is possible that significant events will occur during the times of the fifth, sixth, and seventh feasts. For a believer who is located somewhere other than Israel, while that believer might be able to be aware of possible dates that coincide with the dates of feast days of the Hebrew ecclesiastical calendar, it is possible that that believer will be unable to be certain which dates coincide with the dates of feast days of the Hebrew ecclesiastical calendar. Therefore, if the Rapture will occur on a date that will coincide with the date of the feast known as the Feast of Trumpets and Yom Teruah, it is possible that that believer will be unable to be certain on which day the Rapture will occur. In that regard, as time approaches a time period that could possibly coincide with the date of Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah, a believer can certainly be alert for the possibility of the Rapture occurring during that time period, but the believer should refrain from assuming that the Rapture will definitely occur during that time period. It is worthwhile to refrain from making such an assumption about the date of the Rapture because refraining from making such an assumption can help a believer avoid making any bad decisions that could result from an assumption that the Rapture is definitely going to occur on a certain date. In that regard, there might be con artists and other misguided people who will make incorrect claims about the timing of the Rapture.

Regarding the sequence of the seven feasts during each year of the Hebrew ecclesiastical calendar, significant events have occurred during the times of the first four feasts. In that regard, below is content related to those feasts. In that content, the feasts are listed in the order in which they occurred each year.

1) During the first feast, the Feast of Passover, the Lord Jesus Christ was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity. The Passover day is a Sabbath day. A Sabbath day involves an absence of work. In that regard, the fact that the Passover day was a Sabbath day calls attention to the fact that a personʼs receiving of eternal salvation involves an absence of work by that person for the eternal salvation.

2) The second feast is the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and it occurs for seven days after the Feast of Passover. The Feast of Unleavened Bread teaches about having a relationship with the Trinity [God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit], and the number seven can be used to symbolically represent completeness. In that regard, the Feast of Unleavened Bread immediately following the Feast of Passover teaches that a relationship with the Trinity is possible because the Lord Jesus Christ did the work of being judged for the sins of humanity. The potential of a relationship with the Trinity becomes reality at the moment that a person believes that the Lord Jesus Christ was judged for the sins of humanity. In that regard, the Feast of Passover occurring on a single day of the year teaches that a person receives eternal salvation as a result of that person on a single occasion believing that the Lord Jesus Christ was judged for the sins of humanity, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread occurring on the seven days immediately following the Feast of Passover teaches that eternal salvation is complete for that person who believed that the Lord Jesus Christ was judged for the sins of humanity.

3) During the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the third feast occurs. The third feast is known as the Feast of First Fruits (also spelled Firstfruits). During the Feast of First Fruits, the Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected.

4) During the fourth feast, which is known as Pentecost [PEN-tih-kahst] and also as Feast of Weeks, the Day of Pentecost occurred, which is the day that the time period known as the Church Age began. Regarding the Church Age, after the Lord Jesus Christ was judged for the sins of humanity, His body was in the grave for three days and three nights. He was then resurrected, and He was on the earth for forty days after He was resurrected. He then ascended to Heaven, and ten days after that, the Day of Pentecost [PEN-tih-kahst] occurred. The Day of Pentecost was the beginning of the Church Age. The word Pentecost is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντηκοστή [pronounced pen-tay-kah-STAY and transliterated as pentēkostē]. That word is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντήκοντα [pronounced pen-TAY-kahn-tah and transliterated as pentēkonta], which means “fifty.” Therefore, the word Pentecost is derived from the fact that that day occurred fifty days after the Lord was resurrected. In that regard, the Church Age began fifty days after the Lord was resurrected. The Church Age will end with the Rapture.

5) The fifth feast is the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh]—which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days. The term Rosh Hashanah is derived from a Hebrew phrase in Ezekiel 40:1; that phrase can be translated as “the beginning of the year.” In that regard, the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah occurs on the first day of the seventh month of the Hebrew ecclesiastical calendar, which is the first day of the first month of the Hebrew civil calendar. The name of the month that is the seventh month of the Hebrew ecclesiastical calendar and the first month of the Hebrew civil calendar is Tishri [tish-REE]. Regarding the significance of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah, that feast involves regathering, and the Rapture involves regathering. The Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah involves the regathering of Israelites. The Rapture involves the regathering of Church Age believers. In that regard, the prophecy in the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 and 1 Corinthians 15:51–52 is a prophecy about the end of the Church Age.

6) The sixth feast, the Day of Atonement / Yom Kippur [yahm kih-POOR or yohm kih-POOR], teaches about the Lord Jesus Christ returning to the earth to deliver the nation of Israel, which will be unable to deliver itself. The occasion of that deliverance of Israel is the Second Advent. The Second Advent will occur at the end of the Tribulation, which is the seven-year period that will begin with the Rapture.

7) The seventh feast, the Feast of Tabernacles, teaches about the Millennium. The Millennium will start on the occasion of the Second Advent, and the Millennium will last one thousand years. During the Millennium, the Lord Jesus Christ will reign on the earth.

The content of Colossians 2:16 is repeated below for reference.

Colossians 2:16

Therefore, no one is to judge you regarding food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths—

Colossians 2:17

things which are a shadow of what is to come—but the body/substance of Christ.

Note: The regulations and rituals specified in the Mosaic Law part of the Old Testament taught that the Savior would be judged for the sins of humanity. While specific details about the Lord were absent from the regulations and rituals specified in the Mosaic Law part of the Old Testament, there were bits and pieces of information that provided hints about Him. Those hints are like a shadow that precedes someone approaching—such as from around a corner, for example—that provides some information about the approaching person without providing full details about that person. That is known as shadow Christology.

Regarding the information that the regulations and rituals specified in the Mosaic Law part of the Old Testament provided, there was enough information for people to realize that they are unable to provide eternal life for themselves and that the means by which to receive eternal life is by means of faith that God the Son would take the form of the sinless Man Who would be judged for the sins of humanity. After the Lord Jesus Christ was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity, a person receives eternal life by means of faith that God the Son took the form of the sinless Man Jesus Christ Who was judged for the sins of humanity. That is known as historical Christology.

Colossians 2:18

Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement/humility and the worship of the angels, going into detail about those things which he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind

Note: The prize referenced in this verse refers to the eternal rewards that a believer can receive in Heaven. The word prize is singular because it refers to the eternal rewards collectively. If a believer becomes involved in activities that involve disobeying the Word of God, then that believer will miss out on receiving some eternal rewards. In that regard, if a person influences a believer to become involved in activities that involve disobeying the Word of God, then the person doing the influencing defrauds that believer of eternal rewards.

From the context of Colossians 2, the self-abasement/humility referenced in Colossians 2:18 is false humility in which a hypocritical person pretends to be humble when that person is actually self-centered. Also, the phrase about those things which he has seen refers to what the person doing the defrauding claims to be a vision or visions, and the phrase inflated without cause by his fleshly mind indicates that that claim about a vision or visions is a false claim.

Colossians 2:19

and not holding fast to the Head, from Whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God.

Note: The word Head in this verse refers to the Lord Jesus Christ. The reference to a body in this verse refers to all Church Age believers collectively. The reference to joints and ligaments in this verse is a metaphorical reference to the Word of God.

Colossians 2:20

If you have died with Christ—and you have—from the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as,

Note: In the translation of this verse, the type of if is “if—and you have.” It is called a first-class condition. Also, rather than the reference to dying in this verse involving literally having died, that reference to dying involves believers in the Lord Jesus Christ being associated with the Lord Jesus Christʼs spiritual death on the cross, which was His strategic victory over Satan in the angelic conflict. Being associated with the Lord Jesus Christʼs death is referred to as having died positionally. By being associated with the Lord by means of His substitutionary work for humanity on the cross (He was punished as the Substitute for humanity), believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are freed from the power of the elementary principles of the world (the human-viewpoint thinking of the world); therefore, believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are metaphorically dead to those elementary principles of the world.

Colossians 2:21

“Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!”—

Colossians 2:22

which are all for perishing with use—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men?

Note: People were teaching about refraining from handling, tasting, and touching things that are for the purpose of being consumed and that therefore can indeed be handled, tasted, and touched. The refraining from handling, tasting, and touching things when it is permissible to handle, taste, and touch those things was a teaching that is known as asceticism [uh-SET-ih-sihz-uhm].

Colossians 2:23

These are matters which have, to be sure, the speech of wisdom in self-made worship and self-abasement/humility and severe treatment of the body of no value against fleshly indulgence.

Note: The phrase speech of wisdom refers to what seems wise but is actually other than wise. The phrase self-made worship refers to any form of worship that is not in accordance with the Word of God. From the context of Colossians 2, the self-abasement/humility referenced in Colossians 2:23 is false humility in which a hypocritical person pretends to be humble when that person is actually self-centered.

The term fleshly indulgence refers to succumbing to temptations that come from oneʼs old sin nature (OSN). Every human except the Lord Jesus Christ has acquired an old sin nature, and each humanʼs old sin nature is in the body of that human. The old sin nature, which is referenced in Ephesians 4:22 with the term old man, can also be referred to as the sin nature. It is also referenced using the word flesh in Ephesians 2:3 and Galatians 5:16. The content of Romans 6:6 associates the sin nature with peopleʼs bodies, and the content of Romans 7:17–18 references the sin nature being in peopleʼs bodies. Adam and Ishshah [ish-SHAW] (the name of Eve before Adam renamed her Eve) were created without old sin natures, and they acquired old sin natures when they sinned. All other human beings have been conceived. Only the Lord Jesus Christ was conceived without an old sin nature. All the other humans that were conceived have been conceived with old sin natures. Likewise, all humans in the future will be conceived, and the conceiving of each of them will involve each of them receiving an old sin nature at the moment that each of them will be conceived.

In order to refrain from fleshly indulgence, a person needs to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior and to then be in fellowship with the Trinity and thereby filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit. In that regard, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity. After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored. The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1. Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30. In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit. Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19. In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer. After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.

Sincerely,

John